The first step to having flawless lip color is creating a smooth base. Follow these tips to get flake-free lips:
Once a week: Exfoliate your lips with a lip exfoliator like h.wood.beauty h.wood.lips Lip Tea Scrub, $20. Or you can make your own scrub at home. Mix a tablespoon of virgin olive oil with a pinch of brown sugar and lightly rub the mixture over your lips to remove any flakes.
Right before lip color application: Apply a lip balm and let it absorb for a couple of minutes. Then blot it off so that the lipstick doesn't slip off.
Now that your lips are prepped, let's look at the hot new lip colors for fall.
Photo 4/10
Hot lip color No. 1: Merlot
One of the hottest fall lip trends is lips that look like they spent some time sipping a bottle of wine. Merlot-stained lips are a rich hue that anyone can pull off, says Powers. "Burgundy is a classic shade that really draws attention to your lips."
To choose the right hue for you:
For fair skin tones: "If the contrast between your red lips and fair skin is too much, you can always opt for a gloss," says Powers. "The transparent nature of a gloss will let a little of your natural lip color come through and soften the overall contrast between lip color and skin." Try CoverGirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm in Peony, $6.49.
For dark skin tones: Opt for a deep burgundy in a glossy finish. "Deep skin tones can get away with pushing the envelope with vampy dark lipsticks, so be daring and choose a color that looks almost too dark to wear," says Powers. Try Nars Lipstick in Viridiana, $24.
Photo 5/10
Hot lip color No. 2: Berry
For the women who shy away from a red lip -- but still want to play with color -- Powers says this rich color is a flattering alternative.
To choose the right hue for you:
For fair skin tones: Choose something bright but pink-y. "This should look almost like you've been biting your lips," says Powers. Try Dior Dior Addict Lipstick in Show 778, $28.
Nude, muted lips are the perfect complement to fall's trendy, smoky eye, says Powers. (You can see how to do a perfect smoky eye here.)
To choose the right shade of beige for you, choose a nude that is similar to your lip color or slightly lighter, says Powers. Also, make sure the color corresponds to your skin's undertone. If you have cool undertones, try a pinky nude like Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Madere, $25. If you have warm or olive undertones try a warmer, more golden nude like Clinique High Impact Lip Colour SPF 15 in In a Nutshell, $14.50.
Photo 7/10
Hot lip color No. 4: Fuchsia
While bright colors are usually reserved for the warm seasons, matte fuchsia lips are big this season, because they "complement the bright fabrics that are also carrying over from summer," says Powers. "Fuchsia is generally a universally flattering shade that works for all skin tones, but for fall, the key is to pick something a little deeper than what you would wear for summer."
For dark skin tones: Opt for a deeper magenta, maybe even one with a little shimmer, like CoverGirl LipPerfection Lipcolor in Burn, $6.99. (Tip: You can also top your fuchsia lip with a little gold gloss.)
While summer was all about the soft pinks and bright corals, lips are getting a bold overhaul for the new season. Fall trends are calling for deep plums and rich mauves for your pout, and you'll find that there's a color for everyone -- even the Chapstick-wearer in the corner who dares to maybe wear tinted lip balm for a night out.
We get it: Bold lipstick can be intimidating. What if it bleeds, flakes, or worse -- leaves red stains on your man's crisp white shirt? Even those of us who've dabbled with the coral colors of summer may find these hues for fall pretty daring. But with all these gorgeous colors, it'd be a crying shame if we didn't partake. That's why we talked to Jessie Powers, Make Up For Ever National Educator, who filled us in on how to wear these fall lip trends. Turns out it's all about choosing the right hue for your skin tone and undertones.
So whether you're a lipstick newbie or bonafide beauty junkie, there's never been a better time to break out of your lip box and experiment. Here's how to do it right.
